hi, I have some quastions

[pigpig]

hi, i was wondering about few things...
1. what camcorder is the best for skate videos??
2. where can i find "fish eye" lance and how much does it cost???
3. what capture card should i buy?? how much does it cost???


Aviad Rom
KGB skate crew member....
we're havin' a new sk8park next month

[mikejl29]

Here are some answers to your questions:

1. There is no "best" camcorder. The pro's usually use the following camcorders though:
Sony DCR-VX2000 ($3000 USD)
Sony DCR-VX1000 ($2000, no lcd and only available on ebay)
Canon GL2 ($3000)
Canon GL1 ($2500)
Those prices are averages, not guarenteed to be exact. They are all miniDV camcorders and thats what most of the pros use.

2. There are many different fisheye lenses that you can get. The best one is obviously the Century Optics 0.3x Death Lense. http://www.centuryoptics.com . That lense usually retails for about $600-$700. A step down from that would be a Raynox Fisheye. Those are about $300. At the bottom of the chain would be the Kenko Lense. Those are under $100. It also depends what size thread you have on your camcorder.

3. Well, if you are using a miniDV camera it usually have a firewire port. All you need to buy is a firewire card to stick into your computers PCI slot and a cable to go from that to your camera. THey usually come with software that will capture the video for you. They are usually about $50 all together, depending on which model you get.

I hope this helps you. All of the prices I mentioned are USD. Some of the online stores to get this stuff from would be http://www.bhphotovideo.com or http://www.tristatecamera.com

[SIM37]

i need a new camera, mines ancient, like back from 1996 (well, it's ancient in technical terms)

[mikejl29]

If you want to be cool like Bret and I, you will be getting yourself a TRV-18. LOL!!!! Nah, the cam your using doesn't really matter, its how you use it.

[OLDskool]

You dont't have to spend $2000 on a camera, a cheaper one and a converter box will do. if you can afford it, an entry level digital video camerawith firewire is a good way to go as the video can go directly into the computer. If yo buy a Sony camera, they have wide angle lenses for their cameras - same for other manufacturers

[mikejl29]

Yes, sony cameras do have wide-angle lenses. They also make telephoto lenses for their cameras. You need to look at companies like Kenko, Raynox or Century Optics if you need a fisheye. Remember, there is a difference between fisheye and wide angle.

"And make sure you learn to shoot long lens before you use a fisheye" - Bret HAHA:D

[punkrock016]

yes yes yes, if you wanna be a good filmer thats the way to go.

[Craig Himself]

a tripod would be good too lol

[City Stars guy]

hey sorry dude but i cant answer n e of your ?'s sorry :(

[Snaker]

Since I'm a cheap bastard, I'm getting the Kenko 0.43x Fisheye. Why do I have to be poor?! Why?! LOL, but I was wondering: it's thread will fit my Sony TRV118, right? I mean it should, I'm just clarifying before I make any purchases.

[punkrock016]

daaaaamn this thread is ancient.


you might need a step up ring....

[Skate or Try]

you'll be able to find a adapter for different size lenses

[snowboarder]

Wouldnt it be possible to emulate a fisheye with a video editing program?

[Flip Boy]

Probably, but then you would be running the risk of losing quality, its like bending, rotating, shifting images the frames would get caught and tangled causing delayed images and low quality, then with compression.. co-blammo! no quality..like a poo colour.. lol anyway i ave no idea thats my theory tho

[mikejl29]

You wouldn't get the same amount of image recorded onto the film. The fisheye allows you to film much closer to the skater.

[Skate or Try]

snowboarder you don't think they use it for the pretty effect did u?

[oldscoolelement]

wtf is a fish eye lense? is that where the image is a circle?

[Craig Himself]

:: claps ::

You can make a fisheye look...but it wont be filming lyke a fisheye will it... so basically your just chopping off even more of the image that you're getting

[Snaker]

Any skate fottage you ever see is filmed using a fisheye, it's just that some lenses distort it more than others, so some don't actually have that "bubble" effect. Fisheyes are pretty essential to skate filming, because it allows you to get closer and get better shots, especially with handrails and lines.

[punkrock016]

no snaker, no.

there's a thing called long lense, it is very popular.

for the ingnorant kids around here long lense = no lense on the camera

for the even more ignorant kids around here, no you dont take anything off, you just use the camera exactly how it came.

[Snaker]

LOL. I prefer fisheye, 'cause I've been filming long-lens for two years now, and I'm tired of it. I'm just now getting a fisheye, I can't wait. I'm gonna start posting some high-quality videos on here in a couple months.

[spratt_]

first of all , im a director of a small governemnt access tv station .. i have an assistent , whom i throw most of the work on and just sit around and collect a paycheck , i got this job becausei knew the right ppl and was in the right place at the right time , i will tell u all now .. in reference to all this talk of cameras and computer's and capture cards ..

you guys want to know what real professional equipment is or want to make professional videos without haveing to pay for professional equipment .. ?

here is my line up from a professional view ..

i own 4 cameras .. my Cannon Gl1 is just as goos as my Gl2 except for 2 thing's .. the Gl2 has much better audio quality then the Gl 1 ever had ..

i also have a Sony Dcr-VX2000 , and a Sony DCR-trv38 .. pop a good fisheye on the trv 38 and it work just as well as the VX2000 .. honestly ..

as far as editing goes ,


i get paid to go to clases yearly and learn new techiniques , in my opinion and the industry's opnion

Avid products are the leading company for anything that is professional editing ..

in second place is any Apple product . .such as Final Cut Pro 4 ...

i have 2 apple computers ..

one is a G3 and one i just ordered is a G4 Apple I-book , i have to say Apple is the best when it come to anything that is graphical .. anyone who wants a perfect video made whether your a kid or not .. apple is the way to go .. and if being a editer/filmer is somewhere u want to be when ur older .. start learning everything that is apple people .. cause technology is changing and peecee's will never be on toop when it comes to anything that requires high speed graphics processing ..

thats all i got to say

[yumlifecool]

Well to lay it down i tryin to get sponsored by Termite Skateboards. And I need to send them a video of me my sister has a camera but how cann I edit it.

[yumlifecool]

oh yeah i dont have edit soft ware

[mikejl29]

Edit your post instead of posting again... seeing as you're new I'll let it slide. Go buy some editing software. You could also just enter contests as it's an easier way to get sponsored.

[zeronoah]

i only have one of them ones with the little pull out screen, lol its not anything advanced just a camcorder

[DarkHawk2-2]

it dun' matta. we using a sony handycam dammit!... lol... and my friends canon.

[Snaker]

I'm using a Handycam, too, but it's not too bad, if you have the right equipment.

[punkrock016]

this thread is so lame. there's these ignorant assholes all over the place asking retarded questions they could find out for themselves with a 2 second search on google.

then we got these other assholes who think they know everything and they're almost as ignorant as the first assholes i talked about.

then you got this other asshole who thinks he's hot shit because he got hooked up...when in all actually he's a dumb **** because he said that the trv38 is just as good as a vx2000. in NO situation is the 38 even close to equal to ANY 3 chip camcorder.

then you got asshole's like me who really do know everything and likes to point out everyone's mistakes.

listen and learn assholes, excluding mike of course.

[mikejl29]

Time for me to be an asshole... this was in my post in a thread that got closed for some reason or another....

As for your "Job" and you saying that you "know your shit" I believe and disbelieve that at the same time. Your thoughts on the GL1 and GL2 are correct. I do have something to add though. The professionals in the TV industry where you work are probably not using miniDV systems. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think they would at least be using DV and SHOULD be using BetaMax cameras. My next question is with your statement that by "popping a good fisheye" onto a TRV-38 your footage will be just as good as a VX2000. Is it me or is a VX2000 using three CCDs with manual functions for exposure, shutter speed, WB? You would obviously be able to use those to enhance your footage. Next is the fisheye for this TRV-38. The only fisheye available to get you anywhere NEAR the VX2000 would be the Century Optics Ultra Fisheye... but I'm sure you knew that... you work at a government access TV station.

Now you go onto say that Avid systems are the best. I will certainly agree with that as my best friends dad works for Avid and I have had the opportunity to use their software extensively. The making of a "perfect" video will not depend on your operating system, it depends on your creativity. Your workflow may improve... but your creativity is only limited by your mind.

I'm an asshole because I think I'm hot shit. HAHA. Oh well. People need to learn about "search engines" and "books" and maybe even the "library"

[spratt_]

well , whatever , Mikej29 at least u had the decency to point out a flaw or in my post , no need for you to be an asshole though , on the other hand the real asshole is punkrock016 .. i have to say this and excuse me for syaing but punkrock016 u need to Shut the **** up ..

one , i want to see YOUR portfolio with items u have created ? u should have one with every show , video or more .. to show u have expirience ..

i know i have one and everytime i do a show or build a website or edit a video for a company .. i add it in there .. till i see proof of that , u have no justifyable reason to talk shit to me at all .. yes u are an asshole , and u say u know everything and i know nothing , u dont have proof , i mean u can't just know more then everyone else here and not have proof or expirience to back u up ... so i wait until u reads this and decide to post what u have done or pictures or even give me clips of items u have edited or show me and actual picture of your camera ..

Mikej , century optics is definetly a good lens if not it's ONE of the best .. it's not the only great lens out there .. i work with tons of lenses at my work , i have to tell u we have century optics lenses and we have sony broadcast lenses .. i have to say the century outperforms the sony lenses in some situations ... etc ..

[zeronoah]

those two assholes need to shut the hell up, stupid assholes, i hate that when people say asshole too many friggin times... assholes. hehh

[punkrock016]

www.kickstandmedia.com/hops.html
www.kickstandmedia.com/oldsite/footy/twin.html
www.kickstandmedia.com/promo.html
www.kickstandmedia.com/bretwithvx2000.jpg

that doesn't mean that i'm arguing against the fact that i'm an asshole...i'm an asshole, big deal. these all have flaws as well, but whatever, they were all first try and i didnt have time to go back and refilm them so that i could fix the stuff that would take too long to fix in post.


i pointed out the flaw in your post too dood.

[spratt_]

the point is , im not understanding here where everyone gets off being a dick with me ? the mods are dicks with me , u as a user are a dick with me , and i mean , it is really rediculous , it needs to stop ..
ill look at what u got and ill see what u have there that might even give u the slightest amount of creditability .. and dont worry , ill put up pictures tonight of the studio i work in .. and my camera crew i manage ..

[spratt_]

and to mikej's post earlier , i wanted to reply back ...

since u guys know more than me ..
ansewer these following questions , not because ur not in front of me chances are you'll just try and look it up on the internet ..

What is Focal Flange ?
What is the primary Purpose of back focus ? and can it be done on a sony vx2000 ?
What does CCD stand for ? and what does it do ?

if u can ansewer those with out stuttering at all , or not taking all dayt to reply back to it .. then ill know u know as much as me or more ...

[spratt_]

oh yeah and , i think im hot shit too , so i guess there is something in common that everyone this forum has right ? everyone thinks there hot shit ...

[punkrock016]

learn how to edit your posts.

i'm not a professional, i dont even film that much any more, its just something i do for kicks and to help kids out. of those three questions i can answer CCD is a charge couple device, its used to capture light. there's tons of things, forgot the name, that are used to convert light to a digital signal. if i felt like being an extra asshole i'd go find out the rest on the internet, but i'll be honest about it

dont think you're special because you get to work in a studio and manage a camera crew, if anything, it should uphold you to a higher standard of information, and you gave false information...which kids who do not know any better would take your word over mine, due to the fact that you have more opportunity and equipment, when in all actuality, i was right.

i'm not 'getting off' with being a dick, but after spending years on the internet doing my best to learn everything i can and suffering from misinformation that did nothing but set me back, it gets a bit annoying when i see someone who should know what they're talking about, giving kids wrong information. I can be a dick about it if i want to, as can you, the only difference is the moderation status...which i haven't taken advantage of in like a year.

oh and about credibility, you lost it all when you said that a 1 chip camera can be as good as a 3 chip camera... sorry dood, you did it to yourself.

asking me 3 questions that you know the answer to, does not prove anything at all, it just shows that you're trying to be a hotshot. None of these kids need to know what focal flange (which i'm guessing has something to do with the depth of field or something, i dunno, why dont you tell me since you're all knowing and i am your humble subject), what the hell a CCD stands for, or back focus is, since evidently it cannot be done on consumer cameras. they might need to know this if they choose to go into the video/film industry as their career, which none of them have, but as for now, let them just learn the basics and then get creative.


~EDIT
wait a second, i just looked through your other posts in other threads and i have come to the conclusion that you are a complete idiot.

not only that but you called someone a 'weenie', more than once, and you claim to be 20 years old, dont think so kid. You're not welcome here in my eyes, go **** up your forums on your site. this is just promoting fighting and bickering, THREAD CLOSED

haha, first time i've used any of my moddig privledges in like a year...somebody kick me off already.

[blind]

We couldn't do that Bret, the forums would die without our number 1 asshole, haha.

[Ramp]